Department of Family and Consumer Sciences
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Item Assessing The Visuospatial Working Memory Of School Children Undergoing Abacus Training(University Of Ghana, 2022-01) Ansah, E.E.The main aim of abacus training is to enable children perform fast, accurate arithmetic using an imaginary abacus. The ability to do that accurately, comes from the development of an aspect of working memory called, the visuospatial working memory. The purpose of this study was to assess the influence abacus training has on the visuospatial working memory of school children. A quasi-experiment research with a quantitative approach was used to conduct the study. Purposive sampling technique was used to select 4 schools at New Achimota in the Greater Accra region for the study and all the children in classes 4, 5 & 6 participated in the study. Out of the 4 schools, 2 were exposed to abacus training (experimental group), while the other 2 were not exposed to abacus training (control group). The sample size used for the study was 90 for the experimental group and 100 for the control group with 10 dropping out of the study. At the beginning of the study, 3 different cognitive test; Raven’s Colored Progressive Matrices test (RCPM), Digit Memory test (DMT) and Letter Cancellation test (LCT) as well as a questionnaire on the demographic of the children was administered. After that, the experimental group were trained in abacus 2hours per week in addition to the normal school curriculum for a period of 4months, while the control group was taught the normal school curriculum only. The 3 cognitive tests; RCPM, DMT and LCT, were administered again to the children at the end of the four-month period. With the aid of SPSS version 23, the data was analyzed using bivariate correlation, independent t-test and analysis of variance (ANOVA). The results of the study showed that, gender, age and parents’ socioeconomic status had no effect on the visuospatial working memory (VSWM) of school children. Also, in comparing the VSWM of the experimental and control group, there was a significant change favoring the experimental group. The findings prove that, when children learn to use their imaginary abacus for mental calculations, it trains and develops their VSWM as well.Item Perceptions And Preferences Of Children’s Books Among Parents In The Ga North Municipality(University Of Ghana, 2021-12) Fleischer-Djoleto, D.M.Children’s books contribute immensely to their cognitive, social and emotional development. Some considerations have been adopted to guide adults in selecting appropriate books for children however, few studies have been done to understand parents’ perceptions and preferences in the selection of books for their children within the Ghanaian context. The study sought to explore parents’ considerations in selecting children’s books and the reasons for those considerations. This study employed a mixed method approach. Parents of children below 8 years were first interviewed on their perceptions of the books available on the market and their preferences for children’s books. Data were transcribed and analysed using NVIVO 12 (to generate themes). Findings from the interviews were used to modify an adapted scale to create a contextually appropriate questionnaire. Copies of the questionnaire were distributed to a larger number of parents with similar characteristics. Quantitative data were analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (Version 26). The study revealed that more than half (12) of the parents bought books from various bookshops. More parents (7) stated that they came across more foreign books, even though a few (3) mentioned that they saw a few local books. The study also showed that parents were displeased with the type of books available and would have wanted more local books in the market. Parents stated that they prioritized the quality of the book. Various factors including children’s age, content and illustrations of books were mentioned as factors they would consider when selecting books. Of all the factors, the illustrations and aesthetics as well as the content of books were the main factors considered. Correlation analysis showed a strong relationship (r= 0.612, p>0.01) between recommendations parents receive and their discretion. The findings of the study when documented would serve as a guide for parents in the selection of books for their children.Item Experiences Of Parents With Preterm Children In Accra, Ghana: Coping Resources Parents Use.(University Of Ghana, 2021-09) Opoku-Mensah, A.K.ABSTRACT The continuous rise in preterm births in Ghana has led to the country’s inability to achieve Millennial Development Goal 4 – which is, reducing the mortality rate of children under age five. Unfortunately, the exact cause of preterm birth is still unknown. Preterm birth is associated with poor developmental outcomes and low chances of survival for children, leaving parents and families of the affected children with mixed feelings and stress. Complications associated with preterm infants (such as their vulnerability to infections, inability to breastfeed and low weight) cause parents to fear losing the baby. This study investigated the coping resources available to parents with preterm infants at home. The study employed a qualitative approach that is, using an exploratory descriptive design and data collected at one point in time. The study location was the Department of Child Health at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH). A total of 19 mothers, purposively selected, were used for the study. Data was analyzed using thematic content analysis. The predetermined themes data was organized around were: mothers’ experiences during hospitalization, mothers’ post-NICU experiences, coping resources parents used and support systems. 17 sub-themes emerged from the interviews conducted. The findings showed that resources such as money, taking time off work, faith, space, inner strength, among others made caring for their preterm less difficult and ensured the survival of their infants. Based on the findings, it was recommended that the government should add most Neonatal and Intensive Care Unit (NICU) charges to the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) and the Ghana Under-five Health Policy. The findings of this study meaningfully add up to existing literature on preterm birth in Ghana.Item Physicochemical and Sensory Evaluation of a Breakfast Cereal Made from Sprouted Finger Millet-Maize Composite Flour(University of Ghana, 2019-07) Acheampong, R.Underutilized and marginalized food crops are less regarded with respect to promotion and exploration. Nonetheless, they are more adapted to adverse climatic changes, a global food security problem, especially in third world countries. This has necessitated the exploration and promotion of the potential of deserted indigenous food crops on the verge of extinction, to safeguard food security in developing countries. This research studied the performance of finger millet flour (FMF) in breakfast cereal production. The study developed a process for the production of flour from finger millet, maize and date fruit and followed a one factor design in which Maize flour (MF) was substituted with FMF at 0%, 40%, 50%, 60% and 70% levels of incorporation. The tristimulus colour (L* value), pH, amount of water and oil absorption capacity, proximate composition, emulsion capacity and stability, swelling power and solubility index, particle size distribution and pasting properties of composite flour samples were analyzed. Breakfast cereal samples made from composite flour were analyzed for sensory characteristics and tristimulus colour (L* value). Moisture, ash and fiber content of composite flour samples increased with increasing SFMF, while carbohydrate and protein content decreased (p ≤ 0.05). Water and oil absorption capacities, emulsion capacity and stability, swelling power and solubility index increased with increasing levels of SFMF in the composite flour samples while pasting properties (final viscosity and peak viscosity) decreased (p ≤ 0.05). Tristimulus L* value decreased (darker breakfast cereal) as SFMF increased in composite breakfast cereal samples, with 70% FMF recording the lowest L* value (p ≤ 0.05). Sensory analysis of the breakfast cereal samples showed that breakfast cereal with 40% and 50% SFMF had the highest overall acceptability, colour, and taste scores (p ≤ 0.05). Results from this study indicate that nutritious breakfast cereal samples with high ash and crude fiber, but low carbohydrate and moisture content can be made from finger millet-maize composite flour. MF can be partially substituted with 40% to 50% FMF for breakfast cereal production. This can go a long way to address food insecurity resulting from the neglect of most indigenous nutritious food crops, by increasing the use of this marginalized indigenous adverse weather resistant crop, while providing food manufacturers with an option to partially substitute MF in breakfast cereal applications.Item Appearance Management: Shopping Styles, Dress Styles and Personality Traits of Female Young Adults(University of Ghana, 2019-10) Appiadu, D.An understanding and application of consumer behaviour to fashion product development and marketing provides a competitive advantage that leads to the success of every fashion business. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the relationship among shopping styles, dress styles and personality traits of Ghanaian female young adults. A cross-sectional design with a quantitative approach was used to conduct the study. A multistage sampling technique was used to select 447 Ghanaian female resident undergraduate students, aged 18 to 25 years from three halls in the University of Ghana, Legon. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data on respondents’ demographic characteristics, shopping styles, dress styles and personality traits. With the aid of IBM SPSS Version 20, the data were analysed using Principal Component Analysis and Pearson Product-Moment Correlation. The results showed that the personality traits of the female young adults predisposed them to multiple shopping and dress styles, and these traits were also reflected in how they scouted for stores, selected and purchased clothing for creating their personal appearance. Their conscientious nature, rather than their tendency to trust made them high-quality conscious consumers who mostly remained loyal to the brands that met their needs and expectations. Although, their agreeable nature and receptivity to a variety of interests, ideas and experiences predisposed them to adopt an ethnic-inspired look, less than half of the respondents mostly wore clothing that depicted their cultural and national heritage. The findings have implications for the fashion industry and policy makers. It is therefore recommended that producers of fashion merchandise should develop products of optimum standard in order to satisfy the needs of Ghanaian female young adults, as this could positively impact their businesses. The government of Ghana should also develop and implement policies, as well as intensify public sensitization on the ‘Wear Ghana Initiative’ in order to promote the sale of Ghana-made clothing, create jobs, and maintain the cultural identity of Ghana.Item Quality Kindergarten Education in the Tamale Metropolis: A Study of Public and Private Schools.(University of Ghana, 2018-07) Laar, F.Y.Access to kindergarten education has increased in Ghana currently, however, due to poor monitoring and evaluation systems, standards are often compromised. This study sought to assess quality kindergarten education using one hundred and two (102) public (52) and private (63) kindergartens in the Tamale Metropolis, of Ghana. A cross-sectional design with mixed method approach was used to sample one hundred and twenty (120) teachers and ten (10) head teachers from the sampled schools. The selected respondents were given questionnaire to fill out and some interviewed face-to-face, alongside classroom and environment observations. Data collected were analysed quantitatively using the Predictive Analytic Software (PASW version 22) and qualitatively by extracting themes and subthemes. The findings showed that all the respondents (both public and private schools) used the Ghana Education Service curriculum as a guide for teaching. Again, the findings showed that all the respondents practiced the whole class alongside small group instructional and assessment methods in their classrooms however, the respondents in the public schools used more whole class instructional and assessment methods than their counterparts in the private schools due to the large class sizes. The findings again show that the respondents had various understanding of quality which guides their teaching and assessment. It was concluded that, the respondents (heads of schools and teachers) have a wealth of knowledge which could be harnessed and implemented to achieve the desired quality in kindergarten education. The study therefore recommends that early childhood education programmes should provide kindergarteners with opportunities to be assessed with varying informal techniques and tools within children‘s natural learning settings to enable teachers provide relevant support in their development and learning. Again, it is further recommended that more infrastructural development should be established to suit children‘s developmental needs. The findings of this study could serve as a basis for training for kindergarten teachers, and could also form the basis for policy and future research.Item Play and Social Competence: Perceptions of Parents’ at Haatso(2019-02) Sai, J.A.The study was conducted to analyze the association between parents’ perceptions of children’s play and its relationship with children’s social competence development. The objectives of the study were to (1) Understand parents’ perceptions of play (2) Determine whether there were differences in parents’ perceptions of children’s play when analyzed by parents: gender, age, and level of education (3) Determine whether there were differences in parents’ perceptions of children’s play when analyzed by child’s gender, and age (4) Assess parents rating of children’s emotional and behavioral problems and (5) Examine if there were relationships between parents’ play perceptions and their children’s emotional and behavioral problems.The study was carried out at Haatso in the Ga East Municipal District of the Greater Accra Region of Ghana. Purposive sampling was used to select two schools, one private and one public. A sample of 200 parents with children aged 4–7 participated in this study. The parent’s belief play scale and the strengths and difficulties questionnaire (parent and teacher version) were used for data collection. The Predictive Analytic Software version 21, (PASW21) was used for the analysis and the ANOVA tests, and Pearson correlation was used to test the hypotheses. It was hypothesized that: HO1: There is no significant relationship between parent’s perceptions of play and children’s social competence; HO2: There is no significant relationship between parent’s perceptions of play and parent’s level of education. HO3: There is no significant relationship between parent’s level of education and emotional and behavioral problems of children. The results were as follows: Ghanaian parents valued the significance of play to children’s growth and therefore supported playing with their children. Parents’ perceptions of child’s play differed by age, and educational level, but there was no difference by parents’ gender. There was no significant difference in parents’ perceptions of children’s play when examined by child’s gender and age. Significant difference was found for parents rating of their children’s emotional and behavioral problems when analyzed by children’s gender. Boys were assessed by their parents as having advanced levels of total difficulties and hyperactivity problems, than girls. With regards to children’s age, differences were found for only emotional problems, children aged 6-7 years had higher levels of emotional problems when compared to 4-5 year olds.Parents’ play support was positively correlated to children’s pro social behaviours and academic support was negatively correlated with total difficulties, emotional, conduct, hyperactivity and peer problems. The Pearson correlation test revealed there was a statistically significant relationship between parents play beliefs and children’s development of social competence (r = 0.194 p = 0.006, r = 0.188, p = 0.008). It also revealed there was statistically significant relationship between parents play beliefs and level of education (r= 0.145, p = 0.040, r = -0.410, p = 0.000). Finally, there was a significantly negative relationship between parent’s level of education and emotional and behavioral problems. In conclusion the findings in this study indicate that parents play perceptions had a positive relationship with children’s development of social competence. It is therefore recommended that parents be sensitized by teachers on the developmental role of play in child development.Item Sensory and Physicochemical Evaluation of ‘‘Burkina’’ Made with Composite (Cow and Tiger Nut) Milk(University of Ghana, 2018-05) Nyarko-Mensah, P.“Burkina”, a popular fermented milk beverage containing fermented millet agglomerates, is consumed in West Africa. Consumer behaviour towards “Burkina”, perceptions on its safety and potential for causing food borne illness, affects the distribution and sales of the product. Tiger nut, an underutilized crop in West Africa, with a rich nutty taste and unique mouthfeel has been incorporated into formulations for fermented milk products such as yoghurt, but not “Burkina”. The objectives of this study were to develop “Burkina” with tiger nut milk as a composite ingredient, determine consumers’ behaviour towards “Burkina” and “Burkina” made with composite (cow and tiger nut) milk and determine the physicochemical properties, consumer preference and microbiological quality of the product. “Burkina” was prepared with (0 %, 2 % and 4 %) milk fat, with or without 40 % Tiger nut milk (TNM) and analysed in triplicate for pH, colour, proximate composition and minerals. Students and staff of the University of Ghana were carefully selected for Consumer Focus Group Discussions (CFGDs) using a recruitment questionnaire and an interview guide respectively. Consumer preference for “Burkina” was also determined using an untrained panel. Standard methods for microbiological analysis were used. Descriptive statistics involving frequencies and central tendency were employed in data analysis and reporting. Data collected from the study was subjected to Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) in Statistical Analysis Software (SAS/STAT, University Edition). The global theme obtained from the CFGDs was segregated into sub-themes and the results were thematically analyzed using Attride-Stirling’s method with the aid of ATLAS.ti.7 software. The addition of TNM increased the carbohydrate, protein, fat and ash content of “Burkina”, but moisture content decreased. The pH was acidic (3.78 – 3.98) and was unaffected by the addition of TNM. The L value of “Burkina” decreased (became darker) with the addition of TNM, while mineral values (K, Na, Mg, P) increased but Ca levels decreased as tiger nuts contain less Ca than milk. There were no counts for salmonella, coliforms, E. coli and Staphylococcus aureus but there were low counts for yeast and molds (within the acceptable range) in “Burkina” with TNM. “Burkina” flavour was unaffected by the addition of TNM. However “Burkina” with TNM had lower ratings for overall acceptability, aroma, colour, after taste and mouthfeel. Affordability and vendor proximity were major facilitators of “Burkina” patronage, while packaging was an average facilitator. Product safety and storage temperature were major barriers to the purchase and consumption of “Burkina”. The results suggest alternative uses for tiger nuts. Optimizing the amount of TNM added to “Burkina” may create “Burkina” with an enhanced nutritional profile and improved sensory properties. It may also increase the consumption of dairy milk beverages for improved nutrition, while improving upon the quality, safety and appeal of “Burkina” among Ghanaian consumers.Item Lived Experiences of Female Basic School Dropouts: A Social Capital Perspective(University of Ghana, 2018-11) Tambo, A.B.The undesirable impact of female school dropout has attracted attention from governments, stakeholders, national as well as multinational institutions to look at the phenomenon from various perspectives. This study was conducted to gain insight into the causes of basic school dropout behaviour among females in the Narhman community, Accra, within a social capital framework. A cross sectional design with a qualitative approach was used to interview eighteen respondents using the face-to-face interview method. Data was analyzed along three predetermined themes and emerging sub-themes were extracted using the Grounded Theory approach. The findings showed that child maltreatment, parental poverty, illness, peer teasing and parental death were some of the factors that made respondents drop out of school. The findings again showed respondents had negative forms of social capital reflecting in their stories and this influenced their decision to drop out of school. Based on the findings, it was recommended that the Ghana Education Service introduces the concept of Social Capital as a topic in Social Studies in basic schools. These findings of the study would add up to existing knowledge that could form the basis for developing interventions to curb the incidence of females dropping out of school.Item Influence of Extension Delivery on Livelihood Outcomes of Vegetable Farmers in the Tolon and Kumbungu Districts of Northern Region, Ghana(University of Ghana, 2014-07) Habib, Z.; Boateng, S.; Atengdem, P.B.; University of Ghana,College of Basic and Applied Sciences, School of Agriculture, Department of Family and Consumer SciencesVegetable production is one of the economic activities of farmers in the Northern Region of Ghana. It is an income generating activity from which most farmers meet their livelihood outcomes. Despite the fact that some of the vegetable farmers receive extension services from MoFA Agriculture Extension Agents with the expectations that yields of their vegetable would increase and their livelihood outcomes would have improved, the farmers still record low yields. This study therefore aimed at determining the influence of extension delivery on the livelihood outcomes of the vegetable farmers using 200 vegetable farmers and 16 Agricultural Extension Agents. In all, 100 farmers who receive extension services, 100 farmers who do not receive extension services and 16 AEAs were interviewed. The study was undertaken in ten (10) communities drawn from Tolon and Kumbungu Districts of the Northern Region of Ghana. The research design was a survey research. The methodology used involves techniques such as interviews, focus group discussions and observations. The main findings of this study were (1) vegetable farmers prefer farm visit as the best method for accessing and delivering extension programmes. (2) Farmers were never contacted in planning and initiation extension programmes. (3) The Chi-square results indicated that respondents‘ opinion on the contribution of vegetable cultivation to their food security was significant (χ2 = 14.328, df = 3, p = 0.002). The results also indicated that respondents‘ knowledge in vegetable cultivation is significantly related to the type of extension delivery method (χ2 = 11.886, df = 4, p = 0.018). The statistics showed that, improved access to employment by the farmers was significantly related to the media used to disseminate information ( χ2 = 20.410, df = 6, p = 0.016).It is concluded that access to extension services has had positive effect on the livelihoods outcomes of farmers. It is recommended among other things that farmers are given the opportunity to participate in University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh iii the programme planning so as to increase the adoption of innovation with regards to vegetable cultivation. It is also recommended that MoFA should give extension agents the training on the use of participatory extension approaches for increase farmers‘ participation.
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